Preamble

The House met at Half-past Two o'Clock

PRAYERS

[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]

DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI

Messages of Condolence

Mr. Speaker: I have to inform the House that I have received the following telegrams expressing condolence with the British nation in the loss it has sustained by the death of His late Majesty:

From the President of the National Assembly of France to the Rt. Hon. Wm. Shepherd Morrison, M.C., K.C., M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons.

Profoundly moved by the death of His Majesty King George VI, I desire to express in the name of the National Assembly the deep sympathy felt by the deputies for our great ally in its mourning. Remembering the noble example of heroism given by the late King during the last war, I salute his memory with sadness and respect. I beg you to convey our sentiments of sympathy and affection to all your colleagues and also to convey to the Royal Family my most sincere personal sympathy.

EDOUARD HERRIOT.

To the Very Honourable the Speaker, House of Commons.

The Belgian House of Representatives has learnt with deep emotion of the death of His Majesty King George the Sixth. It pays respectful homage to the memory of a sovereign who was at all times a model of courage, dignity, and devotion to duty; and it associates itself unanimously with the great grief that has just fallen upon the Royal Family and the peoples of the United Kingdom and of the British Commonwealth. As a sign of mourning it has suspended its labours in the middle of to-day's meeting.

FRANS VAN CAUVELAERT,

President of the House of Representatives.

To the Speaker of the English Parliament.

The Luxembourg Parliament in the name of the people it represents sends to the British Parliament the expression of its deepest sympathy on the occasion of the unexpected death of H.M. King George the Sixth. It associates itself with the mourning of the British people and pays respectful homage to the memory of the great King who during a tragic period was with His people the symbol of heroic resistance and the defender of the liberty and independence of small nations.

REUTER,

President.

To Mr. Speaker, House of Commons, Westminster, London.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies, in suspending its sitting as a sign of mourning at the passing away of your gracious Sovereign, associates itself with the affection of the British people and expresses, through me, its deepest feelings of solidarity.

GRONCHI,

President of the Chamber of Deputies.

To the Rt. Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons, London.

Please accept our deepest sympathy on account of your Nation's great loss caused by the sudden death of His Majesty King George the Sixth.

JON PALMASON,

Speaker of the United Althing (Iceland).

To the Right Honourable William S. Morrison, Speaker of the British House of Commons, London.

We express our sincere condolences on the demise of His Majesty the King George VI of Great Britain.

Jon HAYASHI,

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Japan.

Mr. Speaker: Perhaps the House will think it right for me to send suitable replies to those messages.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear.

Lying-in-State

The Minister of Health (Mr. Harry Crookshank): I shall make a statement tomorrow after Her Majesty's pleasure has been taken in regard to arrangements for the Lying-in-State of His late Majesty in Westminster Hall and the funeral. As there will be a further meeting of the Accession Council tomorrow morning, I propose that the House should meet tomorrow at 12 o'Clock.

Mr. Speaker: Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman had better move the Motion to that effect.

Mr. Crookshank: I beg to move, "That this House do meet tomorrow at Twelve o'Clock."

Question put, and agreed to.

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

Mr. Speaker: I ought perhaps to remind the House that, as for the next few days we shall be taking no ordinary business, no Questions have appeared on the Order Paper and none will appear on Monday; nor will any be postponed automatically to a future date. Hon. Members who wish to have Questions postponed to the next available day should give notice of their wish to do so at the Table Office.
Several other Members took and subscribed the Oath or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by law.

ADJOURNMENT

Resolved, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith.]

Adjourned accordingly at Half-past Four o'clock.